Aerosol detection system using optical and mass discrimination

ABSTRACT

A system to detect and identify various aerosol agents, such as biological agents which have been aerosolized, is disclosed. The system generally includes a mechanism to collect a selected sample of atmosphere which may include the aerosol agent, a sub-system to detect the presence and type of agent, and a sub-system to communicate the type of agent detected.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to detection of aerosolizedmaterials; and particularly to aerosolized materials that may causeinjury, sickness, or death.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Many agents, such as chemicals, microbes, including spores and bacteria,and viruses can be extremely harmful or discomforting to livingorganisms, such as humans, if they are able to infect the livingorganism. These various harmful agents may either be naturally occurringor synthesized by various techniques. Certain viruses, bacteria, ornatural toxins may be naturally occurring, but can also be refined,enhanced, or bred, to become greatly more harmful to the livingorganism.

Generally, the more refined or harmful organisms or agents are used forweapon uses. For example, various toxins can be synthesized or refinedto become weaponized for various applications. The toxins may beweaponized and dispersed from a missile over a selected area. Similarly,most agents, can also be weaponized for various applications. The areasaffected by the weaponized agents succumb to the various agents thatwere placed in the weapon delivery system.

The agents may be released in various locations, other than by use ofmissiles or other projectiles. For example, pressurized canisters may beused to deliver the various agents. Therefore, the agents can often bereleased into areas which are otherwise unsuspecting of an agent attack.In addition, the aerolized agents are often invisible to the naked eyeand particularly difficult to detect before infection. Therefore, it isdesirable to provide a mechanism and system that will allow for easy andquick detection of the various agents.

Particularly, it is desirable to detect and confirm the presence ofvarious aerosol agents in a selected period of time. Generally, it isdesirable to detect the agents before the agents have been able toinfect individuals and cause injury thereto. This is particularly thecase in civilian areas where the presence of weaponized agents is notnecessarily expected. Therefore, the detection of the agents isgenerally desired to be substantially quick and easy to use and have ahigh degree of reliability.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

A system to detect and identify various aerosol agents, such asbiological agents which have been aerosolized, is disclosed. The systemgenerally includes a mechanism to collect a selected sample ofatmosphere which may include the aerosol agent, a sub-system to detectthe presence and type of agent, and a sub-system to communicate the typeof agent detected.

Generally, the aerosol detection system includes a first portion toingest or collect a selected quantity of atmosphere in which the aerosolagent may exist. A second portion of the system is able to collect orconcentrate particles from the atmosphere collected into a sample sizethat is manageable for the detection system, particularly for the speedand accuracy required. The agent aerosol detection system also includesa further portion to interact with the concentrated sample to detect orcollect any aerosolized agents therein. The aerosol agent detectionsystem is also able to distinguish between the various particles oragents that are collected in the sample. Finally, the system is able tocommunicate the detected aerosolized agents to provide a feedback to auser.

Further areas of applicability of the present invention will becomeapparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It shouldbe understood that the detailed description and specific examples, whileindicating the preferred embodiment of the invention, are intended forpurposes of illustration only and are not intended to limit the scope ofthe invention.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will become more fully understood from thedetailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a prospective view of an aerosol agent detection system;

FIG. 2 is a detailed view of a mixing system according to an embodimentof the invention;

FIG. 3 is a detailed perspective view of the mixing sub-system and theseparation and detection sub-system according to an embodiment; and

FIG. 4 is a schematic plan view of the mixing and separation andanalysis sub-systems according to an embodiment of the presentinvention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF VARIOUS EMBODIMENTS

The following description of various embodiments is merely exemplary innature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, itsapplication, or uses.

With reference to FIG. 1, a bio-aerosol detection system 10 isillustrated. The system 10, is generally able to collect a sample of theatmosphere surrounding the apparatus 10 to form an atmospheric sample.The apparatus 10 may be able to concentrate agents of interest in thesample and detect the presence of various agents. Although theatmospheric sample need not necessarily be concentrated. It will beunderstood that the following description is merely exemplary, and notintended to limit the scope of the various components of the system 10.The system 10, includes the components to collect and determine whetheran agent is present in the atmospheric sample. The system 10 is alsoable to determine and distinguish a plurality of types of the agents.

Generally, the system 10 includes an atmospheric collection sub-system12 that is able to collect a selected volume of an atmosphere. Theatmosphere collected can be any appropriate atmosphere, such as theatmosphere of a building, the atmosphere of a vehicle, or a localizedatmospheric condition. It will be understood that the atmospheric samplecollected generally includes the gases present in the atmosphere (hereinreferred to as air) and other particles present in the atmosphericsample. The agents of interest in the sample can include bacteria,spores, dust, various chemical compositions such as toxins, and othercomponents. The agents of interest are generally and inclusivelyreferred to as agents herein. Alternatively, the atmosphere collectionsub-system 12 may be modified to collect only the portions of theatmosphere necessary to determine presence of a selected agent oragents.

Operably interconnected with the atmospheric collection sub-system 12 isa concentration sub-system 14. The concentration sub-system 14 isgenerally able to concentrate a selected portion of the atmospherecollected with the atmosphere collection sub-system 12. Any appropriatesystem may be used to concentrate the selected portion of the atmospherecollected with the atmosphere collection sub-system 12, and variousexamples are described herein. Regardless, the atmospheric sampleconcentration sub-system 14 is able to concentrate a selected portion ofthe atmosphere drawn in through the atmosphere sample collectionsub-system 12. Specifically, the concentration sub-system 14 is able toconcentrate any agents present in the sample therefore the entire sampleneed not be analyzed or the sample size may be small.

The concentration sub-system 14 may include any appropriateconfiguration. For example, the concentration sub-system 14 may be asubstantially dry concentration sub-system or a wet concentrationsub-system. That is, the atmospheric sample can be drawn in andconcentrated without adding a substantial amount of moisture or aliquid. Alternatively, the atmospheric sample may be drawn into andconcentrated in a solvent or liquid. Various aqueous, basic, acidic, orionic solvents may be used to dissolve the atmospheric sample and assistin later concentration.

It will be understood that the concentration sub-system 14 is notrequired. For example, the collection sub-system 12 may simply draw aselected amount of the atmosphere into an atmosphere collection orcontainment area. The concentrator sub-system 14 may be eliminated tosimply test an entire sample or when various procedural concerns are notnecessary to be considered. Therefore, it will be understood that theconcentration sub-system 14 is not a necessary component of thedetection system 10.

The atmospheric sample concentration sub-system 14 is interconnectedwith a tagging or sensing sub-system 16. The tagging sub-system 16generally allows for an interaction of a selected agent from theconcentrated sample from the sample concentrator 14 to be lateranalyzed. The tagging system 16 may be any appropriate tagging systemdepending upon the requirements of the aerosol detection system 10. Forexample, the tagging sub-system 16 may interact with a substantially dryor non-dissolved sample from the sample concentrator 14. Therefore, thetagging sub-system 16 can interact and tag various agents in theconcentrated dry sample without substantially changing the constitutionof the sample.

Alternatively, the tagging sub-system 16 may introduce a liquid to theconcentrated sample from the sample concentration sub-system 14.Alternatively, the tagging sub-system 16 may simply add a fluidincluding a selected tag to the concentrated sample from the sampleconcentration sub-system 14. Regardless, the tagging sub-system 16 isable to tag or interact with the various selected agents that may bepresent in the concentrated sample from the sample concentrationsub-system 14.

Any appropriate tag may be used to interact with the sample from thesample concentration sub-system 14. For example, various molecules maybe present to interact with the agents that are present in theconcentrated sample from the sample concentration sub-system 14. Themolecules or tags are then able to be detected by the aerosol detectionsystem 10. Alternatively, the tag may be a particle that interacts withthe selected agents. Regardless, various tags may be provided tointeract with the agent that may be present in the sample of theatmosphere.

The tags may also be used later for various separation techniques, suchas mass separation, electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis, solvent/gelinteraction, and various other known or appropriate techniques fordetermining the presence of the selected agents. It will be understoodthat the tagging sub-system 16 is not limited to any particular systembut can include any appropriate tagging sub-system.

In addition, the aerosol detection system 10 also includes a separationand analysis sub-system 18. The analysis and separation sub-system 18generally includes a separation portion 18 a and an analysis ordetection portion 18 b. The separation and analysis sub-system 18 isable to determine the presence of selected agents that may be present inthe concentrated atmospheric sample. Again, the analysis and separationsub-system 18 may be any appropriate analysis and separation sub-system18 for the aerosol detection system 10, depending upon the variousselected characteristics. For example, the analysis and separationsub-system 18 may separate the selected portions of the sample using aliquid base or method. The liquid based sub-system may use a selectedliquid chromatography to interact with the tags added in the taggingsub-system 16 to separate or determine the presence of any selectedagents. Alternatively, various electrophoresis, dielectrophoresis orchannel separation systems may be applicable in the analysis of theseparation sub-system 18. In addition, the analysis and separationsub-system 18 may be a substantially dry system or include interactionof the separation sub-system 18 with a liquid. Therefore, the separationand analysis sub-system 18 may include any appropriate functions orportions depending upon the specifics of the characteristics of theconcentrated sample in the sample concentration sub-system 14.

As a further example, if the sample is substantially dry, various dryelectrophoresis or dielectrophesis interactions may be used to separatethe particular agents. In addition, various centrifugal forces may beapplied to further separate the selected agents from the concentratedatmospheric sample. Therefore, it will also be understood that one or aplurality of separation techniques may be used in the separation andanalysis sub-system 18 to achieve selected goals or characteristics ofthe detection system 10. Further, a plurality of separation techniquesmay be used at once to separate the agents.

The analysis portion 18 b of the analysis and separation sub-system 18is able to determine, according to various parameters and techniques,the presence and the identity of various selected agents from theconcentrated atmospheric sample. For example, the tag applied to theatmospheric sample may include a selected and detectable property. Adetectable property may include various forms of radiation that may beemitted by the tag applied in the tagging sub-system 16 that may bedetected in the analysis portion 18 b of the analysis and separationsub-system 18.

As an example, the tags added in the tagging sub-system 16 may emitvisible, infrared, or ultraviolet radiation. This specific wave lengthof the various radiations being equivalent or determined to be relatedto a selected agent from the concentrated atmospheric sample. Therefore,the analysis portion 18 b is able to detect a given radiation outputwhich leads to a determination regarding the presence of various agents.Nevertheless, it will be understood that any appropriate analysisportion 18 b may be included in the analysis and the separationsub-system 18. For example, various mass separation determinations maybe used depending upon the separation portion 18 a. Also, detecting aselected radiation or a selected wave length of a selected radiation ismerely exemplary and is not intended to limit the scope of the presentdisclosure and appended claims.

The aerosol detection system 10 is able to be used to determine andidentify various agents that may be present in an atmospheric area orsample. The various portions of the aerosol detection system 10 mayinclude various exemplary portions, as described herein. Nevertheless,it will be understood that the various exemplary embodiments describedherein are not intended to limit the scope of the appended claims, butare made simply to provide identification for various embodimentsenvisioned.

The atmospheric sample intake sub-system 12 may be any appropriateintake sub-system. For example, and as illustrated in FIG. 1, theatmospheric sample sub-system intake 12 may include a fan 24. The fan 24may be driven by any appropriate motor that is internal or external tothe atmospheric intake sub-system 12. The fan 24 is able to draw airfrom the exterior of the system 10 and drive it into the atmosphericsample concentrator sub-system 14.

The atmospheric intake sub-system 12, may also be selected dependingupon various selected characteristics of the atmospheric detectionsystem 10. For example, it may be desired to collect a selected volumeof atmosphere in a given time span. Therefore, the size or the speed ofthe atmospheric collection sub-system 12 may be selected to achievethese various results. In addition, the size of the atmosphericcollection sub-system 12 can be selected for various physicalconstraints. For example, it may be desired to provide the atmosphericdetection system 10 within a selected volume thus requiring theatmospheric intake sub-system 12 to require no more than a given volume.

The atmospheric intake sub-system 12 is generally able to intake aselected volume of the atmosphere surrounding the system 10 and provideit to the atmospheric sample concentrator 14 during a selected timeperiod. In addition, the atmospheric intake sub-system 12 is able toprovide the selected atmosphere sample to the atmospheric concentrator14 without substantially contaminating the sample of the atmosphere.Generally, at least one purpose of the system 10 is to determine thepresence of unwanted agents in the atmospheric sample. Therefore,providing a generally clean atmospheric intake sub-system 12 may bedesirable.

After the atmospheric sample and the selected agents are collected usingthe atmospheric collection sub-system 12, they are concentrated or movedto the atmospheric air concentration sub-system 14. The atmospheric airconcentration sub-system 14, may be any appropriate atmosphere orfluidic concentration system. It will be understood that agents may notalways be present, as it is one purpose of the system 10 to sodetermine. Nevertheless, the following description generally assumes thepresence of such agents for discussion of the system 10.

The complexity of the concentration sub-system 14 may range from asimple volume to a collection and concentration system such as acyclonic air sampler. Various cyclonic air samplers are generally known,such as the system disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 6,532,835 entitled “HighEfficiency Wetted Surface Cyclonic Air Sampler”, incorporated herein byreference for all purposes. The wetted surface cyclonic sampler may beuseful if the sample is collected into a liquid solution or liquid forlater detection and analysis. Therefore, the atmospheric collectionsub-system 12 may collect the selected sample and place it into asolution of a liquid for concentration or initial separation in acyclonic sampler. Without great detail, the wetted cyclonic sampler isgenerally able to strip or collect the selected agents from theatmospheric sample. The stripped agents may be concentrated in thewetted portion of the concentrated sub-system 14 for later analysis anddetection.

Although the wetted cyclonic concentration system may be used for theatmospheric sample concentration sub-system 14, it may not be one of thecharacteristics of the detection system 10 to include a liquid in thedetection system 10. Therefore, the sample concentration sub-system 14may also be a substantially dry sub-system. That is, the moisture orliquid content within the sample collected by the sample collectionsub-system 12 is not substantially wet or high in moisture and may evenbe dried before entering into the concentration sub-system 14.Therefore, the concentration sub-system 14 may also include a volumeinto which the atmospheric sample may be placed. That is, a selectedvolume of the atmosphere surrounding the system 10 can be drawn in withthe atmosphere collection sub-system 12 and placed in the sampleconcentration sub-system 14.

The volume placed in the concentration sub-system 14 of the atmospherecollected by the atmospheric collection sub-system 12 may be a volumegreat enough to provide a sufficient amount of the selected agent, ifpresent, for later analysis. That is, the volume would include acritical amount or selected amount of the agent if present in theatmosphere. Therefore, rather than concentrating the agent, which may bepresent in the atmospheric sample concentrated in the atmospheric sampleand concentrator 14, simply enough of the atmosphere is drawn into thesample concentrator 14 for later analysis. As an example, if an absolutenumber of at least 1000 parts of the agent are necessary for accuratedetection either the sample may be concentrated or a larger amount ofthe sample may be analyzed.

After the appropriate amount of the sample is transferred in anappropriate fashion, to the tagging sub-system 16, the atmosphericsample may be transferred from the concentration sub-system 14 to thetagging sub-system 16 in an appropriate manner such as blowing or masstransfer. It will be understood that if the system 10 is substantially adry system, that the sample may be blown or drawn using a vacuum orpressure differential from the sample concentration sub-system 14 to thetagging sub-system 16. Alternatively, if the sample concentrator 14 orthe system 10 in general is a substantially liquid or wet system, thematerial may be moved using a pump or other appropriate method. It willbe understood, that the liquid for the system 10 may be any appropriateliquid. “Wet” also generally, as used herein, refers to the presence ofa liquid which may suspend the agent that may be present in theatmosphere. Therefore, wet is not simply limited to the presence ofwater but may also include any other appropriate liquid, such as aorganic liquid, acidic or basic liquid, or any other appropriate liquid.

In the tagging system 16, various appropriate mechanisms are present toallow for tagging of the agent present in the sample. It will beunderstood, although the following description relates generally to asubstantially dry tagging technique that any appropriate taggingtechnique may be used. For example, if the concentrated sample from thesample concentrator 14 is substantially in a liquid a fluid transfer ofthe sample may be used to transfer the sample to a substantially liquidholding container. In the liquid holding container, the appropriate tagsmay be applied to the selected agents for later analysis. Nevertheless,the wet system may be substantially similar to the substantially drysystem described herein, but rather the sample is contained in theliquid and provided to a substantially liquid environment for lateranalysis.

With particular reference to FIG. 2, the tagging sub-system 16 isgenerally positioned operably with an outlet 25 of the sampleconcentration sub-system 14. The outlet 25 provides the concentratedsample to a mixing cell 26. The mixing cell 26 is generally able tocontain the concentrated sample from the sample concentrator 14 for thetagging process. Operably interconnected with the mixing cells 26 is anultrasonic vibrator or mixer 28. It will be understood that any otherappropriate mixer may be provided besides the ultrasonic mixer 28, butsize and speed considerations may allow for use of the ultrasonic mixer28. It will be understood that other mixing processes, such asmechanical, mass distribution, and other generally known mixingapparatii can be used in the mixing chamber 26.

Before, after or substantially in conjunction with providing the sampleto the mixing cell 26, a tag and a selected amount of a liquid isprovided to the mixing cell 26. At least a single injector 32 isprovided to inject an appropriate substance into the mixing cell 26. Itwill also be understood that a second injector 34, a third injector 56and a fourth injector 38 may also be provided. In addition, any otherappropriate number of injectors may be provided for injecting materialinto the mixing cell 26. For example, six, eight or any otherappropriate number of the injectors 32 may be provided to inject theselected material into the mixing cell 26.

Nevertheless, the injectors 32 are generally able to inject the tags anda selected amount of a liquid into the mixing cell 26. Even if themixing cell 26 is a substantially dry cell and the system 10 is providedto be a substantially dry system, a selected amount or volume of liquidmay be injected into the mixing cell 26. Without being limiting by thetheory, it is generally believed that any agent that may be present inthe atmosphere sample may better be mixed with the tags in a liquidenvironment. In addition, various known agents are understood to beprovided in a selected weaponized format that substantially only breaksdown in the presence of a selected volume of a liquid. Therefore, aselected volume of liquid is injected into the mixing cell 26 to allowaccess to the weaponized form of the agent that may be present in theatmospheric sample.

The tags supplied in the tagging system 16 are generally intermingledwith and connected to the selected agents in the mixing chamber 26. Thetags may either be present in the mixing chamber 26 or added to themixing chamber at any appropriate time. For example, the tags may beinjected with the liquid that is injected from the injector 32.Regardless, the tag is able to interact with the agent in theatmospheric sample to become substantially commingled or interacted withthe tag.

The tag may be any appropriate tag that may be analyzed in the analysisand separation sub-system 18. As discussed further herein, the tags mayinclude particles that have a selected property to interconnect with aselected agent for analysis and detection at a later time. It will alsobe understood that other appropriate tags, such as single molecularspecies and the like may be interconnected with the selected agents thatmay be present in the atmospheric sample.

Regardless of the tag provided, it is generally more efficient to mixthe material or agents than may be present in the atmospheric sample toassure at least a chance for interconnection between the agent of theatmospheric sample and the selected tag. A mixer, such as the ultrasonicmixer 28 may be provided to substantially mix the atmospheric samplefrom the atmospheric sample concentrator 14 with the liquid injectedfrom the injectors 32, 34, 36 and 38 and the tags. As discussed above,the tags may already be present in the mixing chamber 26 or injectedfrom the injectors. In addition, the mixer 28 may not necessarily berequired to be the ultrasonic mixer 28. For example, a fan or physicalmixer may be present in the mixing chamber 26 to mix the atmosphericsample and the tags. The liquid may also assist in the mixing within themixing chamber 26.

It will also be understood that the mixing chamber 26 may include asingle type or a plurality type of tags. If a single tag type isincluded generally only one is interacted and only one agent isdetected. If a plurality of types of tags are present then more than oneagent may be interacted and identified. For example, a single tag may beprovided for a single selected agent, such as a specific bacterium.Alternatively, a plurality of tags may be selected to be present in themixing chamber 26 for interacting with a plurality of agents, such asbacteria, viruses, and toxins.

If a single tag may be provided that interacts only with a specificchemical species, such as a selected toxin, the tag would onlyinterconnect or interact with the atmospheric sample if the selectedchemical agent was present in the atmospheric sample. Otherwise, thetags would not interact with any portion of the atmospheric sample andno detection would occur. Thus, the entire tag population would beuninteracted if no agent was present. Alternatively, a plurality of tagtypes may be present and interact with a plurality of agent types. Forexample, a tag type may be present that interacts with each of aselected chemical species, a selected viral species, and a selectedbacterial species. Therefore, the tag would interact with each of theselected species, being the chemical, bacteriological, or viral, toallow, for detection of the various species at the selected point. Itwill be understood that the system 10 may be provided to substantiallyselect or detect a single agent type or a plurality of agent types thatmay be present in the selected atmospheric sample. Regardless, theanalysis and separation sub-system 18 may be able to determine thepresence of the selected agents by determining their presence or stateof a selected tag. Therefore, the system 10 may be used to determine anddetect a plurality of agent types or the presence of only a single agenttype.

After the selected agents are tagged, they are generally provided to theseparation and analysis of sub-system 18. The analysis and separationsub-system 18 may be any appropriate analysis and separation sub-systemdepending upon selected characteristics of the aerosol detection system10. For example, if a liquid is used as a carrier fluid of the selectedsample, including the tags and the selected agents, the analysis andseparation sub-system 18 may include a substantially liquid basedseparation, such as various chromatographies, dielectrophoresis, massdiscrimination technologies or gel separations systems. Alternatively,if the sample is carried in substantially dry fluid, for example dry airor other inert gas such as argon, the separation and analysis system 18may be a substantially dry separation and analysis system. Therefore,the separation and analysis system is not intended to be limited by thefollowing description. Simply, a substantially dry separation andanalysis system is intended as an exemplary embodiment and not intendedto limit the scope of the appended claims.

With reference to FIGS. 3 and 4, the analysis and separation sub-system18, according to a selected embodiment, is illustrated and described. Itwill be understood that the separation and analysis sub-system may besubstantially a single system and is described in various portions forclarity alone. Therefore, the analysis and separation sub-system 18generally includes the separation portion 18 a that has a separationchamber 42 that defines a substantially annular or toroidal chamber. Theseparation chamber 42 is able to rotate around a selected axis that isaligned with a spindle or axle 44. The axle 44 allows the separationchamber 42 to spin at a selected rate, while being driven by a motor 46.The motor is able to spin the separation chamber 42 in a selected mannerin a selected time.

A first aerosol or inlet conduit 48 is provided to allow the sample andtags to enter the separation chamber 42. Generally, a particle 50 isformed by the interacted tags and the uninteracted tags that travel fromthe mixing chamber 26 through the inlet conduit 48 to enter theseparation chamber 42. As discussed above, the transfer may also beperformed with a fluid conduit. For example, if the particles 50 aresuspended substantially in a liquid fluid, the separation chamber may beinterconnected with a substantially liquid conduit medium. However, asillustrated here, if the separation chamber 42 is a substantially drychamber, the particles 50 may be provided in a substantially dry fluid.

The inlet conduit 48 allows for the particles 50, including the agentthat is interconnected with the tag to be transferred into theseparation chamber 42. The conduit 48 is generally provided along theaxle or within the axle 44 about which the separation chamber 42 is ableto spin. Therefore, the transfer of the particles 50 from the mixingchamber 26 to the separation chamber 42 is substantially unaffected bythe operation of the system 10.

Once the particles 50 have been provided to the separation chamber 42,the separation and analysis process may occur. Generally, the separationchamber 42 includes at least one substantially transparent portion 60.The transparent portion 60 or also referred to as an optical window 60includes any appropriate portion that is transparent to selectedwavelengths of energy. The optical window 60 is generally also anannular ring that defines a selected circumference or portion of theseparation chamber 42. As discussed above, the separation chamber 42 isexemplary substantially an annular disc and the optical window 60generally defines a portion of the annular disc of the separationchamber 42. Also, the separation chamber 42 includes a selectedthickness, thereby defining an internal separation area 62. The opticalwindow 60 defines at least a portion of the separation area 62.Therefore, the particles 50 will be able to be present between twoportions, a first portion 60 a and a second portion 60 b of the opticalwindow 60.

The optical window 60 (i.e. the first portion 60 a of the optical window60) allows for an excitation source 64 to form or transmit an excitationbeam 66 to be transmitted through the optical window 60. The excitationbeam 66 excites a selected portion of the particles 50, as describedfurther herein. In addition, a receiver or analysis system 68 isprovided to receive or detect through the optical window 60 (i.e. thesecond portion 60 b of the optical window 60) any emitted energy or beamfrom the selected particles 50, also described further herein.Therefore, the optical window 60 is able to allow both the excitationbeam 66 and emitted energy from the selected particles 50 to reach theoptical detector 68.

It will be understood that the excitation source 64 may create anyappropriate excitation energy 66 that is able to reach the particles 50.Similarly, the particles are able to emit any appropriate energy that isdetected by the detector 68. Therefore, an optical range is merelyexemplary and not intended to be limiting. For example, the excitationsource 64 may emit energy in the infrared portion of the spectrum, whilethe detector 68 is able to detect wavelengths substantially in thevisual spectrum. Alternatively, the excitation source 64 may be able toexcite the particles with ultraviolet energy, while the detector 68detects visible or infrared wavelengths.

It will also be understood that a plurality of separate excitationsources and/or a plurality of detectors may be provided depending uponthe selected wavelengths. Alternatively, the excitation source 64 may beable to emit a plurality of wavelengths and the detector 68 able todetect a plurality of emitted wavelengths. Therefore, only requiring asingle system that is able to detect or emit various and severalwavelengths.

Generally, the detector 68 is also able to discriminate amongst variouswavelengths of emitted energy. Therefore, the detector 68 is able todiscriminate between, for example, 500 nanometers, 560 nanometers, and620 nanometers. The detector 68 is able to detect various emittedwavelengths that may be within a general range of the electromagneticenergy spectrum.

Extending from the optical window 60 and generally towards the axle 44is an insulator portion 72. The insulator portion 72 is able tointerconnect the optical window 60 through the center of the separationchamber 42 and connect at the optical window 60 to the axle 44 forrotation of the separation chamber 42. Also, the insulator 72substantially electrically isolates a dielectric pattern or electrode 76that is provided near the optical window 60. The electrode 76 is able toprovide a voltage over the area of the separation chamber 42. Thedielectric electrode 76 is able to provide a dielectric force to theparticles 50 that are provided to the separation area 62. As describedherein, the voltage provided by the electrode 76 interacts with acentrifugal force that is produced by rotation of the separation chamber42. Also, various seals 80 are provided to insure that the sample of theatmosphere that is interconnected with the tags to form the particles 50are not able to contaminate or be contaminated from external sources orfrom the system 10 itself. The seals can also ensure the particles 50 donot escape the separation area 62. Therefore, the seals 80 are able toinsure that the sample that has been collected and interconnected withthe tags to form the particles 50 is able to be separated and detectedusing the separation system 42.

The detection system 10, described above, may include various selectedor appropriate components for the various portions of the system 10.Nevertheless, generally the system 10 is able to provide for collection,concentration and detection of various or selected agents that may bepresent in an atmospheric sample. Various exemplary applications, willnow be discussed for illustration of a selected embodiment of theinvention. It will be understood that the following description is notintended to limit the scope of the system 10, nor be exclusive of otherappropriate applications or subsystem portions for the detection system10.

According to an embodiment, the tags included in the tagging subsystem16 interact with the selected agents and form the particles 50 mayinclude a selected size or mass. Generally, the tags are in asubstantially powder form that can be easily mixed with the selectedvolume of the atmospheric sample. The tags may include any appropriateselected properties. For example, the tags may be phosphorescent or emitenergy under selected irradiation or excitation energies. The tags, andthe particles 50, may luminesce or emit energy of a selective wavelengthwhen excited with a selected wavelength of energy.

The phosphors may be substantially “up-converter phosphors” that emitenergy at a wavelength higher than the wavelength of the energy used toexcite the particles 50. The particles may be excited with infraredradiation, that is emitted from the excitation source 64, to, in turn,emit energy in a substantially visual wavelength. Therefore, theparticles 50 may be excited with energy at a wavelength generally abouta wavelength above about 900 nanometers. Yet emit energy in a wavelengthof less than about 900 nanometers. Therefore, the wavelength or energyof the photon emitted is substantially up-converted from the energy thephoton used to excite the particle 50. It will be understood, however,that the particles may be excited by any appropriate wavelength and emitany appropriate wavelength to be detected by the detector 68. Inaddition, the tags may include other appropriate properties that may bedetected with the detector 68.

Furthermore, the tags need not simply be a solid or large particle thatinteracts with the agent from the atmospheric sample. A single chemicalspecies may be provided that can interact with the selected agent. Theselected chemical species may also phosphor or emit a selected radiationwhen excited with a different selected radiation.

Nevertheless, the tags may be provided at a selected size and mass aswell. The tags may be selected to include a size that is substantiallyequivalent or greater than the size and/or mass of a selected agent tobe detected with the tag. The tag may be provided at about 0.1 micronsto about 1 micron for interaction with agents, including bacteria orspores. Alternatively or in addition, smaller tags, such as tags ofabout 0.1 and smaller microns may be provided to interact with otherselected agents, such as viruses or chemical toxins. Therefore, theselected size and mass may be selected for various attributes orcharacteristics of the system 10.

The tags are able to or formed to interact with the selected agents,including the various phosphor properties. For example, the surface ofthe particle may include an antibody that is able to interact with thebacteria or virus. Similarly, the tag may include a receptor site thatis able to interact with a chemical toxin agent that may be present inthe atmospheric sample. The coating or receptor site on the tag may besubstantially specific to a single agent or to a group of agents. Forexample, the coating may interact with any of a selected family ofbacteria or only interact with a selected specific bacteria. Regardless,the tag, when mixed with the atmospheric sample in the mixing chamber26, is able to substantially interact with the selected agent for lateranalysis and separation.

Generally, the tag including a selected coating, may substantially binda bacteria that may be present in the selected atmospheric sample.Therefore, the tag is substantially fixed or bound to the bacterialagent, forming an interacted tag or bound tag, for later separation anddetection. Also, the tag may include a selected and specific emissionwavelength. The tag may be used to detect the presence of a selectedagent by determining the presence of the selected wavelength in thedetection chamber 18. The selected and known wavelength of the tag, whenbound to only a selected agent, is used to detect that specific agent bydetection of the known and selected wavelength.

As discussed above, the various tags may be provided in the system in aselected moving fluid. It will be understood that the fluid may beeither a gas, which is substantially dry, or a liquid. In addition, thegas may include a selected amount of moisture or liquid, depending uponvarious characteristics of the detection system 10. Therefore, the tagsmay be selected depending upon the fluid, which is used to transfer theatmospheric sample. In addition, the specific probe, that binds orinteracts with the agent, on the tag may be selected depending upon thefluid used to transfer the atmospheric sample.

Tags in the tagging subsystem 16 may also include other selectedcharacteristics. For example, the tags may include a selected knowndielectric constant, which is substantially different than that of theagent selected to interact with the selected tag. Therefore, thedielectric constant may be used in conjunction with the electrode 76 toachieve a selected separation of the particles 50 within the separationchamber 42. For example, the tag may include a dielectric constant,which is different than that the agent itself, such that the differencein dielectric constant between the tag plus the agent and the agent byitself will be substantially different when acted upon by the selectedforces. In addition, the tag may be selected to alter the density of theagent in conjunction with the tag as opposed to the agent alone.Therefore, interaction of the tag or particle tag with the agent to formthe particles 50 substantially alters or produces a selected constant,including a dielectric constant and density, for later use in theseparation chamber 42.

In operation of the separation chamber 42, the particles 50 are allowedto move from the mixing chamber 26 in the direction of arrow A towardsthe separation chamber 42. The particles 50 enter the upper portion 42 aof the separation chamber 42 for separation. As discussed above, theseparation chamber 42 generally rotates, thereby providing a centrifugalforce on the particles 50. That is, the particles 50 are generallyforced towards an outside 42 b of the selection or separation chamber42. The particles 50 are forced towards the outside 42 b in thedirection of Arrow B, or the edge of the annular or toroidal separationchamber 42. Alternatively, or contrary to the centrifugal force B, thedielectric force forces the particles in the direction of arrow C. Thedielectric force, which is produced by the voltage provided across theelectrode 76, forces the particles 50 towards the center, towards theaxle 44 (which can define a center axis) of the separation chamber 42.The two forces, as discussed briefly herein, are dependent upon thedielectric constant of the particle 50 and the mass and size of theparticle 50. Very briefly, the particle 50, having a selected mass, willinclude a force that is towards the outside 42 b of the separationchamber 42 because of the centrifugal force. Whereas, the dielectricconstant of the particle provides a contrary force the direction ofarrow C towards the center of the separation chamber 42. Nevertheless,after the particles 50 have been generally separated and detected, theparticles continue in the direction of arrow D through an outlet conduit86.

After the particles 50 have been separated and the detection completed,the separation chamber 42 may be cleared by removing the particlestherefrom. In addition, plasmas may be created within the separationchamber 42, for example, using the electrode 76, to substantially cleanin the separation chamber 42 for analysis of a second or additionalsample. In this way, the system 10 is generally self-cleaning for a fastcycle to a second analysis procedure.

In operation of the separation chamber 42, various forces are used toseparate the particles 50 in an efficient manner. For example, variouscentrifugal and dielectric forces are applied to particles 50 toseparate the particles 50 in a selected manner or in a selected timeperiod. For example, in spinning the separation chamber 42 on the axle44, a centrifugal force is applied to the particles 50 generally definedby equation 1:{right arrow over (F)} _(C) ={circumflex over (r)}·mrω ²  EQ. 1where r-hat is the unit vector along the radius r, m is the particlemass, and w is the angular frequency. Therefore, the force on theparticle 50, depending upon the selected particle 50, can be determinedwith Eq. 1.

Similarly, a dielectric force is produced on the particle 50 byproviding voltages with the electrode 76. As discussed above, thedielectric force is substantially opposite the centrifugal force toassist in separation of the particles 50. Nevertheless, the dielectricforce is, generally assuming that the particle 50 does not appreciablychange the applied external electrical field and differentiatinggenerally known equations provides that the dielectric force is given byequation 2:

$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\rightarrow}{F}}_{D} = {{{- \bigtriangledown}\; W} = {\frac{ɛ_{1} - ɛ_{0}}{8\;\pi}V_{P}{\bigtriangledown^{2}\left( {\overset{\rightarrow}{E} \cdot \overset{\rightarrow}{E}} \right)}}}} & {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 2}\end{matrix}$where W is the energy stored in the particle when a particle 50 is inthe field and V_(p) is the volume of the particle 50.

In addition, the particle 50 is generally placed within a fluid. Asdiscussed above, the fluid may be a substantially dry gas, although itmay also be a liquid. Therefore, a viscous force is also generallypresent and is able to act upon the particle 50. The viscous force isgiven by the equation 3:

$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\rightarrow}{F}}_{v} = {{- \frac{1}{2}}\rho{{\overset{\rightarrow}{V}}_{Rel}}^{2}C_{D}A_{P}\frac{{\overset{\rightarrow}{V}}_{Rel}}{{\overset{\rightarrow}{V}}_{Rel}}}} & {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 3}\end{matrix}$where V_(REL) is the particle velocity relative to the gas, ρ is the gasdensity, C_(D) is the drag co-efficient, and A_(p) is the particlecross-section area. The V_(REL) is approximately one centimeter persecond, in the gas. The drag co-efficient is generally given by theReynolds number, which is defined by a equation 4:

$\begin{matrix}{R = \frac{V_{Rel}d_{p}\rho}{\mu}} & {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 4}\end{matrix}$where d_(p) is approximately 10⁻⁴ cm and μ is the viscosity of the gas.Generally, when the particles are substantially small, the particleswill be entrained completely within the gas. This is even more so whenthe fluid is a liquid which has a much higher viscosity. Finally, ahydrostratic force of the fluid, which is generally produced as theseparation chamber 42 rotates, is defined by equation 5:

$\begin{matrix}{\frac{\mathbb{d}p}{\mathbb{d}r} = {{\rho(r)}\omega^{2}r}} & {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 5}\end{matrix}$where r is the radius of the separation chamber 42. The state of aperfect gas is generally defined by equation 6:

$\begin{matrix}{\rho = \frac{\rho}{\; T}} & {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 6}\end{matrix}$where p is the gas pressure, T is the gas temperature, and R, the gasconstant, is defined by ergs/K° gr.

Under exemplary conditions where r is approximately 10 cm, thetemperature is approximately 300 Kelvin, and ω is approximately 103radians per second, the density of the fluid will not increase greatly.However, it will be understood, that if the fluid is a different fluid,such as a liquid, the hydrostatic forces may be substantially different.Nevertheless, the hydrostatic force for the gas may be defined byequation 7:

$\begin{matrix}{{\overset{\rightarrow}{F}}_{H} = {{{{- \hat{r}} \cdot {\rho(r)}}\omega^{2}{rV}_{\rho}} = {{{- \hat{r}} \cdot {\rho\left( {r = r_{0}} \right)}}{\mathbb{e}}^{\frac{\omega^{2}}{2\mspace{11mu} T}{({r^{2} - r^{0}})}}\omega^{2}{rV}\;\rho}}} & {{EQ}.\mspace{14mu} 7}\end{matrix}$Therefore, the motion or forces acting upon the particles 50 while theyare in the separation chamber 42 is generally defined by equation 8:m{umlaut over (r)}−mr{dot over (θ)} ² =F _(c) +F _(D) +F _(V) +F_(H)  EQ. 8

Using the equations defined above, and generally known mathematicaltechniques, various simulations may be used to test the theoreticaloperation of the system 10 to determine a theoretical separation of theparticles 50 of a selected density and including a selected dielectricconstant. Nevertheless, the equations and the theory simply define theactions which separate the particles 50 in the separation chamber 42.That is, after the particles 50 are introduced into the separationchamber 42, the centrifugal force produces a first force, which movesthe particles 50 generally in the direction of arrow B. The dielectricforce, however, forces the particles 50 in the direction of arrow C.Therefore, the two forces are acting substantially opposite one another.

Generally, the system 10 determines the presence of an agent bydetermining the presence of differences between the presence of aninterconnected tag and the presence of the tag alone. Therefore, once anagent has interconnected or combined with a tag its dielectric forceand/or mass changes compared to the tag alone. For example, a virusalone may have a density of about 1.46 grams per cm³ and a dielectricconstant of about 7. Whereas a virus interacted with a selected tag mayhave a density of about 2.25 grams per cm³ and a dielectric constant ofabout 6. Therefore, the density and dielectric constant of the agentalone compared to the agent interacted with the tag may be used toseparate and determine the presence of an agent in the atmosphericsample. The size, density, and dielectric constant of the tag could beselected appropriately to maximize the difference in mass and dielectricconstant and thus affect better separation between the interconnectedtag and the tag alone.

After the tags have been combined with the agents in the mixing chamber26, the various constants of the agent have changed. Therefore, in theseparation chamber, the tags alone (uninteracted tags) and theinteracted tags can be separated. As discussed above, the tags include aparticular characteristic that can be detected using the detector 68.Therefore, if the tag is able to emit a selected energy at a selectedwavelength when excited, it is able to do so whether or not an agent isinteracted with the tag. Therefore, if the particles 50 are separated inthe separation chamber 42 and the tags have interconnected with aselected agent, then two groups of a single tag with a singlecharacteristic will be present.

For example, if a tag emits energy at a wavelength of approximately 460nanometers when excited with the excitation beam 66, it will do sowithin the separation chamber 42. During the separation process, withinthe separation chamber 42, the two species or groups of particles, onewhich is interconnected with the tag, and one where the tag isuninteracted, will be produced, if a selected agent is present. However,if no selected agent is present, then only one group will be formed,that is the tag will substantially not separate into more than one groupbecause the tag or all particles 50 are substantially uniform.Therefore, during the detection process, a single group only willinclude the selected characteristic, thereby notifying or allowing forthe determination that the tag alone is the only particle 50 present andthus allowing for a negative determination on that selected agent.

If, however, more than one group with the selected emitted energy orcharacteristics is found, then it will be determined that the agent ispresent. The presence of two groups is notice that at least one grouphas been altered, due to the presence of an agent. Simply, the tag willonly bind to the agent, thereby only the presence of the agent willalter the characteristics of the tag, such that it will be separatedfrom a second group in the separation chamber 42.

It will be understood that the separation chamber 42 may be anyappropriate separation chamber, as discussed above. Regardless of thetype of separation chamber 42, the separation chamber 42 is able toseparate the population of a particular tag, depending upon whether aparticular agent has connected to the tag. Therefore, the presence oftwo populations, including a single characteristic, such as a lightemitted at a particular wavelength or a particular separation in acolumn or allows for a positive determination of a presence of an agent.

Using the above described mechanisms, the system 10 may be used tocollect, concentrate, separate, and determine presence of an agent inapproximately one minute. The presence of both the centrifugal force andthe dielectric force allow for a substantially quick separation of theparticles 50 within the gas fluid. It will be understood that otherfluids may allow for a quicker separation or only require a singleseparation force, such as a centrifugal force or a dielectric force, toachieve the selected separation. In addition, a longer detection time oranalysis time may be used, such that only one force is necessary toseparate the particles into various groups. Therefore, it will beunderstood that the above description is merely exemplary and notintended to limit the scope of the appended claims.

While various preferred embodiments have been described, those skilledin the art will recognize modifications or variations which might bemade without departing from the inventive concept. The examplesillustrate the invention and are not intended to limit it. Therefore,the description and claims should be interpreted liberally with onlysuch limitation as is necessary in view of the pertinent prior art.

1. A method of determining the presence of a selected agent in anatmospheric sample with a system including a sample collector, a sampletagger, a sample separator, and a detection component, the methodcomprising: collecting an atmospheric sample of a selected size of anatmosphere; mixing a tag with the atmospheric sample; forming a volumeincluding at least one of an interacted tag and an uninteracted tag;forcing the formation of a collection from the volume of at least one ofthe interacted tag and the uninteracted tag; detecting the presence ofthe collection of at least one of the interacted tag and theuninteracted tag; and outputting the result of the detection; wherein aninteracted tag is formed generally only in the presence of a selectedagent.
 2. The method of claim 1, further comprising collecting theselected agent from the collected atmospheric sample for mixing with atag.
 3. The method of claim 2, further comprising: concentrating theselected agents from the atmospheric sample for mixing with a tag. 4.The method of claim 1, wherein mixing a tag with the atmospheric sampleincludes: generally contacting the tag with the selected agent from theatmospheric sample.
 5. The method of claim 1, wherein forming a volumeincluding at least one of an interacted tag and an uninteracted tagincludes: binding the tag to the selected agent to form the interactedtag.
 6. The method of claim 1, wherein forcing the formation of acollection from the volume of at least one of the interacted tag and theuninteracted tag includes: separating said interacted tag from saiduninteracted tag using a mass differential between said interacted tagand said uninteracted tag.
 7. The method of claim 1, wherein forming avolume including at least one of an interacted tag and said uninteractedtag includes: separating said interacted tag from said uninteracted tagbased upon a dielectric constant differential between said interactedtag and said uninteracted tag.
 8. The method of claim 1, wherein forcingthe formation of a collection of at least one of an interacted tag insaid uninteracted tag includes: separating said uninteracted tag fromsaid interacted tag using both a mass separation and a dielectric forceseparation.
 9. The method of claim 1, wherein forming the uninteractedtag includes not contacting the tag with the selected agent.
 10. Themethod of claim 1, wherein detecting the presence of the collectionincludes: exciting said tag to force said tag to form an emissionenergy; and detecting the emission energy from the excited tag.
 11. Themethod of claim 10, further comprising: determining the presence of morethan one collection; wherein the presence of more than one collectionallows for a determination of the presence of the selected agent. 12.The method of claim 1, wherein outputting the result of the detectionincludes outputting the presence of one or more collection.
 13. Themethod of claim 1, wherein collecting an atmospheric sample includescollecting a plurality of types of the selected agent; wherein each ofthe type of selected agent relates to a selected detectable species. 14.The method of claim 12, wherein mixing a tag with the atmospheric sampleincludes: mixing a plurality of types of tags with the plurality oftypes of selected agents; wherein each of the types of the plurality oftags interacts with substantially only a single type of the plurality ofselected agents to form a plurality of types of interacted tags.
 15. Themethod of claim 1, wherein forcing the formation of a collection fromthe volume includes forming a formation of a collection in a fluid thatis substantially dry.
 16. The method of claim 1, wherein said tag is anup-converter.
 17. The method of claim 1, further comprising: inducing anemission of a first wavelength from at least one of said interacted tagand said uninteracted tag with a second wavelength; wherein said firstwavelength is less than said second wavelength.
 18. A method ofdetermining the presence of a selected agent in an atmospheric samplewith a system including a sample collector, a sample tagger, a sampleseparator, and a detection component, the method comprising: collectingan atmospheric sample of a selected size of an atmosphere; providing atleast a portion of the atmospheric sample to a mixing cell; injectingfrom at least a single injector a tag into the mixing cell; mixing theinjected tag with the at least a portion of the atmospheric sample;forming a volume including at least one of an interacted tag and anuninteracted tag; moving the volume to a separation system; determiningthe identity of at least one constituent of the at least a portion ofthe atmospheric sample at least in part by separating the interacted tagand the uninteracted tag; and outputting the result of thedetermination; wherein an interacted tag is formed generally only in thepresence of a selected agent.
 19. The method of claim 18, furthercomprising: providing a plurality of the injectors; and injecting a tagfrom at least one of the plurality of injectors into the mixing chamber.20. The method of claim 18, further comprising: concentrating theselected agents from the atmospheric sample for mixing with a tag. 21.The method of claim 18, wherein determining the identity of at least oneconstituent of the at least a portion of the atmospheric sampleincludes: separating said interacted tag from said interacted tag usinga mass differential between said interacted tag and said uninteractedtag.
 22. The method of claim 21, wherein separating includes: forming aseparation chamber that defines a substantially annular chamber; movingthe volume to the separation chamber; and rotating the separationchamber around a selected axis.
 23. The method of claim 18, whereinforming at least one of an interacted tag and said uninteracted tagincludes: separating said interacted tag from said uninteracted tagbased upon a dielectric constant differential between said interactedtag and said uninteracted tag.
 24. The method of claim 1, whereinforcing the formation of a collection of at least one of an interactedtag in said uninteracted tag includes: separating said uninteracted tagfrom said interacted tag using both a mass separation and a dielectricforce separation.
 25. The method of claim 18, further comprising:forming a separation chamber; providing an optical window; transmittingenergy from an excitation source through the optical window; exciting aselected portion of the volume.
 26. The method of claim 25, furthercomprising: providing a receiver; and receiving an emitted energy thevolume with the receiver.
 27. A method of determining the presence of aselected agent in an atmospheric sample with a system including a samplecollector, a sample tagger, a sample separator, and a detectioncomponent, the method comprising: collecting an atmospheric sample of aselected size of an atmosphere; providing at least a portion of theatmospheric sample to a mixing cell; injecting from at least a singleinjector a tag into the mixing cell; ultrasonically mixing the injectedtag with the at least a portion of the atmospheric sample; forming avolume including at least one of an interacted tag and an uninteractedtag; moving the volume to a separation system; separating the volume byspinning the volume in a separation device causing the interacted tag tobe separated from the uniteracted tag and both moving to an areaincluding a transmission window, wherein two groups of particles areformed if a selected agent is present, a first group of particles thatincludes the interconnected tag and a second group of particles thatincludes the uninteracted tag; providing an excitation source totransmit energy through the transmission window to excite at least aportion of the interacted tag or the uninteracted tag; receiving anemission from at least a portion of the interacted tag or theuninteracted tag; determining the presence of one or more groups ofparticles; and outputting the result of the determination.